Stella Marie (Hoehn) Orck

Stella Marie Orck a long time resident of Columbus passed away on May 4, 2017 at the Columbus Hospice House, she was 93. Stella was a veteran of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WACS) during World War II in Europe and later served in the Pacific. She also served as a nurse’s aide at Martin Army Hospital on Fort Benning before her retirement.

Stella Marie Hoehn was born in Doe Run, Missouri in 1923 and grew up on the family farm in Flat River but called Elvins, Missouri her home. After completing high school she joined the military in 1942 to support the war effort. She was part of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WACS) stationed in England during the German Blitz of London during the war where she served as a clerk-typist. Following the end of the war in the European theater she was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, California attaining the rank of Sergeant. While there she met her husband-to-be Joseph (Joe) John Orck, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, prior to his deployment to Japan. Stella followed Joe, a member of the 11th Airborne Division, to his duty station in Japan during the rebuilding of that country after the war. The two were married in February 1947 in Yokohama, Japan both were 23. Stella then left the service to be with her husband.

Sergeant First Class (Promotable) Joe Orck retired from the Army after 20 years of faithful and honorable service in 1963 and the family decided to remain in Columbus. The couple had three sons with all three graduating from local high schools and all three graduating from different colleges. After Joe’s untimely passing in 1967 Stella began working to provide for her sons. She began at the local Shoney’s Big Boy on Macon Rd as a car hop and later moved on to work for 14 years as a nurse’s aide at Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH) on Fort Benning. While a MACH she worked on different wards and clinics until her retirement in 1981.

Stella is preceded in death by her husband Joe Orck, her sister Helen Hoehn Layne, brother Wilbur Hoehn, brother Lyman Hoehn, sister Rosemary Hoehn, sister Glenda Hoehn Underwood, sister Mary Hoehn Tessereau, and brother Earl (Ed) Hoehn.

Stella’s three sons: USAF Colonel (ret) Charles E. Orck is married to the former USAF Colonel (ret) Bert Hedrich and they currently live in San Antonio, Texas. John S. Orck is married to the former MaryAnn Roof and they live in Columbia, South Carolina. US Army Major (ret) Kevin J. Orck is married to the former Beverly Moore and they live in Columbus. There are five grandchildren: Joey Orck (Clinton, South Carolina), Jason Orck (San Mateo, California), Matt Orck (Charleston, South Carolina), Nathan Orck (Athens, Georgia), and Kelly Orck (Columbus, Georgia).

Graveside service and internment will be conducted at the Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation the Columbus Hospice House at www.columbushospice.com or to the Stella Orck Memorial Fund, Presbyterian College, ATTN: Alex Scull 503 S. Broad St. Clinton, SC 29325.

Please visit www.shcolumbus.com to leave messages of condolences for the family.